Ergonomic garbage container

ABSTRACT

A garbage container includes two shoulder-receiving recesses formed in its bottom edge. The shoulder recesses are contoured indentations formed in the container and are concavely curved and dimensioned to comfortably receive the shoulder of a worker transporting the garbage container. Each shoulder recess includes a removable and replaceable cushion pad. An adapter having two shoulder-receiving recesses is: mountable to the bottom end of a conventional garbage container to provide the conventional garbage container with such ergonomic features.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on U.S. Provisional Application No.60/997,002, filed on Sep. 28, 2007, and entitled, “Ergonomic GarbageCan”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference and onwhich priority is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to garbage containers and morespecifically relates to portable garbage containers.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In many domestic settings, garbage is collected in containers or bagsand then transferred to larger containers outside a residence orbusiness. Contracted or municipal garbage carters send trucks andworkers to collect the garbage left in the containers outside homes.Conventionally, workers once again transfer the garbage into largercontainers carried on the waste collection truck. The collectioncontainers are commonly hoisted onto the shoulder of the worker andtransported by foot to the awaiting vehicle.

Workers in the waste management industry very often suffer from chronicshoulder and back pain caused by carrying said containers between homesand the waste management vehicle. Additionally, injuries such as strainsand sprains may occur as the worker is trying to balance theconventional container on his shoulder. Workers have tried to remedythis problem by carrying cutup shirts or rags on their shoulder,underneath the can, but have had limited success.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a garbage containerthat is ergonomically contoured and designed to provide a worker with acomfortable and secure means of transporting garbage to and fromlocations.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adapterwhich is mountable to a conventional garbage container and whichprovides ergonomically contoured features not found on the conventionalgarbage container.

In accordance with one form of the present invention, a garbagecontainer includes, preferably two shoulder-receiving recesses formed inits bottom edge. The shoulder recesses are contoured indentations formedin the container and are concavely curved and dimensioned to comfortablyreceive the shoulder of a worker transporting the garbage container.Each shoulder recess preferably includes cushioning, such as a removableand replaceable cushion insert or pad that conforms to the contouredsurface of the recess.

In accordance with another form of the present invention, an adapterhaving such shoulder-receiving recesses described above may be mountedto a conventional garbage container which does not have suchergonomically contoured shoulder recesses.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent from the following detailed description ofillustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a garbage container formed inaccordance with the present invention being carried by a worker.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the garbage container formed inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is enlarged cross-sectional view of the lower portion of thegarbage container formed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded view of the shoulder rest formed inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the garbage container formed inaccordance with the present invention, illustrating how the garbagecontainer is handled when being emptied by a worker.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of a first form of an adapter formedin accordance with the present invention which is mountable to aconventional garbage container.

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of a second form of an adapterformed in accordance with the present invention which is mountable to aconventional garbage container.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, partially exploded, perspective view of a portionof the adapter of the present invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Initially referencing FIG. 1 of the drawings, the present invention isgenerally a garbage container 2 having a preferably cylindrical shapewith an open top end 4 and closed bottom end or wall 6. The cylindricalshape of the garbage container 2 is defined by a cylindrical side wall 3having an outer surface 8 and inner surface 10, the inner surface 10defining an internal cavity 12 for holding waste products.

The garbage container 2 preferably includes at its open top end 4 atleast two handles 14 extending radially outwardly from its outer surface8. The handles 14 are preferably positioned diametrically opposite eachother near the top end 4 of the garbage container 2. The bottom end orwall 6 of the garbage container 2 may generally include a flat, planarbottom surface 16.

Now making reference to FIGS. 2-5, it will be seen that the bottom wall6 may further include a recessed cavity 18 formed centrally in itsbottom surface 16. The recessed cavity 18 includes a handle 20 thatpreferably does not extend beyond the plane of the bottom surface 16 ofthe garbage container 2. The handle 20 is formed within the recessedcavity 18 so that the garbage container may rest on the ground withoutany stability limitations.

The bottom end or wall 6 of the garbage container further includes abottom edge 22, the bottom edge 22 being defined as the junction betweenthe bottom wall 6 and cylindrical side wall 3. The bottom edge 22 mayinclude a plurality, but preferably two, shoulder recesses 24. Eachshoulder recess 24 is preferably in the form of a contoured indentation26 formed in the bottom surface 16, bottom edge 22 and cylindrical sidewall 3 of the garbage container 2. The shoulder recess 24 may beconcavely curved and dimensioned to comfortably receive the shoulder ofa worker transporting the garbage container 2. The shoulder recesses 24are preferably positioned diametrically opposite each other and on anaxis 26 that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of thebottom handle 20. Even more preferably, the recesses 24 are positionedin alignment with and below the top handles 14.

Even more preferably, the garbage container 2 of the present inventionincludes channels 25 concavely shaped in transverse cross-section whichextend respectively between the shoulder recesses 24 and the bottomrecessed cavity 18. The concave channels 25 define an open area forreceiving the outer portion of the shoulder or upper arm of a worker whois holding the garbage container 2 and supporting its bottom surface 16on his shoulder, as shown in FIG. 1, for even more comfort for theworker.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, each shoulder recess24 may include cushioning, such as foam, to provide further comfort tothe worker.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, each shoulder recess24 may include a removable and replaceable cushion insert 28 that mayconform to the contoured surface of the recess 24 and correspondingchannel 25, if such is included, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The removableinsert 28 allows the worker to clean the container 2 or insert, orreplace the insert 28, as needed. The cushion insert 28 may be held inplace within the recess 24 and channel 25 by adhesive, or by fasteningmeans, such as snaps or Velcro® hook and loop fastening material (notshown).

A waste management worker may grab one of the handles 14 positioned atthe top end 4 of the garbage container 2 and hoist the container 2 ontohis shoulder. The shoulder recess 24 and channel 25 may receive theshoulder of the worker and provide a comfortable platform for the workerholding the garbage container 2 while also increasing its stability. Theworker may also grab the recessed handle 20 within the bottom surface 16for even more stability and control over the garbage container 2. Theorientation of the recessed handle 20 with respect to the particularpositions of the recesses 24 and channels 25 allows the worker tosupport the garbage container 2 on his shoulder, hold a top handle 14with one hand and hold the bottom recessed handle 20 with the other handwithout requiring the worker to twist his hands in an unnatural orawkward manner, as illustrated by FIG. 1 of the drawings.

In yet a further modification to the embodiments of the garbagecontainer 2 described previously, one or more recessed side handles 27each in the form of a cavity 29 may be provided. Each cavity 29 isdefined by portions 31 of the bottom wall 6 which extend upwardly intothe internal cavity 12 of the container 2. Even more preferably, therecessed side handles 27 formed by the cavities 29 may be positionedwithin corresponding shoulder recesses 24, as shown in FIG. 4, and,therefore, are in alignment with respective top handles 14. If therecessed side handles 27 are positioned within corresponding shoulderrecesses 24, and if cushion inserts or pads 28 are provided, thencutouts 33 may be formed through the thickness of the inserts or pads 28in alignment with the cavities 29. Furthermore, by positioning the sidehandles 27 within shoulder recesses 24, the distance betweencorresponding top handles 14 and side handles 29 is shortened to make iteasy for a worker to handle the garbage container 2 of the presentinvention. Thus, a worker may handle the container 2 of the presentinvention by holding one of the recessed side handles 27 in one hand anda top handle 14 with his other hand.

All or some of the features of the garbage container 2 of the presentinvention, including the shoulder recesses 24, the cushion inserts 28,and the bottom handle 20, may be incorporated into an adapter 40,constructed in accordance with the present invention, mountable to thebottom end of a conventional garbage container 42 which has no suchergonomic features. Such an adapter 40, in various forms, is shown inFIGS. 6-8 of the drawings.

More specifically, and initially referring to FIG. 6, an adapter 40preferably includes an outer peripheral ring 44 preferably in the formof a circular member, the ring 44 having a radially outer surface 48 anda radially inner surface 49 situated opposite the outer surface 48. Theouter peripheral ring 44 includes an upper surface 50 and a lowersurface 52 disposed opposite the upper surface 50. The adapter 40 ismountable to a conventional garbage container 42, with the upper surface50 of the outer peripheral ring 44 resting against and supporting thebottom end or wall 54 of the conventional garbage container. The adaptor40 may be affixed to the bottom end or wall 54 of the conventionalgarbage container 42 in a number of ways, such as using bolts 56, asshown in FIG. 8 and as will be described in greater detail.

The adapter 40 further preferably includes an inner peripheral ring 58,as shown in FIG. 6, disposed concentrically and radially within outerperipheral ring 44. The inner peripheral ring 58 is also preferably inthe form of a circular member and is preferably recessed longitudinallyupwardly from the lower surface 52 of the outer peripheral ring 44 sothat a bottom handle 20 mounted thereon will preferably not extend belowthe lower surface 52 of the outer peripheral ring 44 of the adapter 40to prevent or minimize any instability when the adapter 40, affixed tothe bottom end of the conventional garbage container 42, is resting onthe ground.

Shoulder recesses 24, having the contoured shape described previously,are formed in the outer surface 48 and lower surface 52 of the outerperipheral ring 44. To accommodate the required dimensions of theshoulder recesses 24 so that they are large enough to comfortably fit aworker's shoulder, the outer peripheral ring 44 includes diametricallyopposite bulbous portions 68 which extend radially outwardly from theinner surface 49 of the outer peripheral ring 44 and in which theshoulder recesses 24 are formed. The shoulder recesses 24 of the adapter40 may receive cushion inserts or pads 28, such as described previously.

Preferably, a pair (or more) of diametrically opposed brace members 60extend between the inner surface 49 of the outer peripheral ring 44 tothe outer surface 62 of the inner peripheral ring 58. The brace members60 support the inner peripheral ring 58 within the interior area definedby the outer peripheral ring 44. Preferably, each brace member 60 has anupper surface 64, and the inner peripheral ring 58 has an upper surface66, such that each of the upper surface 50 of the outer peripheral ring44, the upper surfaces 64 of the brace members 60 and the upper surface66 of the inner peripheral ring 58 resides in the same plane to restagainst, and support, the bottom end 54 of the conventional garbagecontainer 42 on which the adapter 40 is mounted. Thus, the innerperipheral ring 58 serves the purpose of supporting the bottom end 54 ofthe conventional garbage container 42 and providing a central locationfor mounting the bottom handle 20. The bottom handle 20, in theembodiment shown in FIG. 6, may be fixedly mounted on inner peripheralring 58, with its longitudinal axis disposed perpendicularly to thediametrical axis in which the shoulder recesses 24 reside, or the bottomhandle 20 may be rotatably mounted, and adjustably positionable by theworker, on the inner peripheral ring 58, as shown in FIG. 8 and whichwill be described in greater detail.

FIG. 7 of the drawings illustrates another form of the adapter 40 of thepresent invention. In this embodiment, the diameter of the outerperipheral ring 44 is greater than the diameter of the bottom end 54 ofthe conventional garbage container 42. Two or more upstandingprojections 70, which are preferably semi-circular in shape, extendupwardly from the outer peripheral ring 44 and outwardly of the uppersurface 50 thereof. If two projections 70 are provided on the adapter40, they are preferably situated diametrically opposite each other. Ifmore than two projections 70 are provided on the adapter 40, thenadjacent projections 70 are preferably spaced at periodic, equaldistances from each other. The radially inward facing surfaces 72 of theprojections 70 are spaced from one another across the diameter of theouter peripheral ring 44 so that, preferably, the bottom end 54 of theconventional garbage container 42 is received closely within the spacedefined by the projections 70. The projections 70 add a further degreeof securement to the conventional garbage container 42, and additionalsupport thereto, by having the projections 70 overlap and extend over aportion of the outer surface of the side wall of the conventionalgarbage container 42. Furthermore, the projections 70 may include holes(not shown) formed through the thickness thereof which may receive bolts(not shown) passing through the side wall of the conventional garbagecontainer 42 to further secure the adapter 44 to the conventionalgarbage container 42.

As can be further seen in FIG. 7, cushions or pads 74 may be affixed byadhesive, Velcro® hook and loop fasteners or the like (not shown) to theouter facing surfaces 76 of the projections 70, and preferably may beremovable therefrom. The cushions 74 are provided to help cushion theneck and face of the worker who carries the conventional garbagecontainer 42, with the adapter 40 of the present invention attachedthereto, on his shoulder. As is shown in FIG. 7, the projections 70 arepreferably situated on the adapter 40 to be in alignment with, anddisposed above, the shoulder recesses 24 so that the cushions 74 affixedthereon are in a proper position to cushion the neck or face of theworker who is carrying the garbage container 42 on his shoulder. Ofcourse, it should be realized that the ergonomically-designed garbagecontainer 2 of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-5 may include suchhead or neck cushions 74 affixed to the outer surface 8 of the side wall3 and situated thereon in proximity to the bottom wall 6 of thecontainer 2 (see FIG. 1).

As is further shown in FIG. 7, the inner peripheral ring 58 of theadapter 40 may include a plate 76 which has a greater diameter than, andextends beyond the periphery of, the inner peripheral ring 58.Preferably, the upper surface of the plate 76 resides in the same planein which the upper surface 50 of the outer peripheral ring 44 and theupper surfaces 64 of the brace members 60 reside so that it engages andsupports the bottom end 54 of the conventional garbage container 42 withthe upper surfaces of the outer peripheral ring 44 and the brace members60 when the adapter 40 is mounted on the conventional garbage container42. The plate 76 is provided to support the bottom end 54 of thecontainer 42 over more of the surface area of the bottom end.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the adapter 40 in which the bottomhandle 20 is rotatable on the adapter by the worker to any desiredposition. The handle 20 is mounted to a circular plate 80 that isrotatably received by the inner peripheral ring 58 and within theradially interior area defined by the inner peripheral ring 58. Theplate 80 may include a circumferential recess 82 formed in its side wall84 in which is received a plurality of ball bearings 86. The ballbearings 86 engage the radially inner surface 88 of the inner peripheralring 58 to allow the plate 80 and bottom handle 20 mounted thereon to berotated effortlessly on adapter 40 by the worker. The plate 80 on whichthe handle 20 is mounted may itself be mounted to plate 76 by a bolt orthreaded pin 90 extending perpendicularly from the lower surface 92 ofplate 76 through a central bore 94 formed through the thickness ofhandle plate 80, and a cooperating nut 96 threaded onto the end of bolt90. Alternatively, the upper surface 98 of rotatable handle plate 80 mayhave bolt or threaded pin 90 extending perpendicularly therefrom andextending through a bore 100 formed through the thickness of plate 76,and have cooperating nut 96 threaded onto the end of bolt 90.

As further can be seen from FIG. 8, and as mentioned previously, theadapter 40 may be mounted on the bottom end 54 of the conventionalgarbage container 42. The plate 76 of the inner peripheral ring 58 mayinclude one or more openings 102 formed through the thickness thereof.Similarly dimensioned openings 104 aligned with plate openings 102 maybe formed by drilling through the thickness of the bottom end 54 ofcontainer 42. Threaded bolts 56 may pass through the openings 102 ofplate 76 of the adapter 40 and the openings 104 drilled through thebottom end 54 of the container 42, with cooperating nuts 106 threadedonto the ends of bolts 56, thus securing the adapter 40 to theconventional garbage container 42. The bolt or pin 90 extending fromhandle mounting plate 80 may also pass through a hole 108 formed throughthe thickness of the bottom end 54 of the container 42, with the nut 96situated within container 42 on the end of bolt 90, to further securethe adapter 40 to conventional container 42.

The ergonomically designed garbage container 2 of the present invention,and the adapter 40 of the present invention, mounted on a conventionalgarbage container 42, provide contoured shoulder recesses 24 and otherfeatures to help a worker carry the containers 2, 42 on his shoulder ina more comfortable and secure manner.

Although a cylindrically-shaped, ergonomically designed garbagecontainer 2 and adapter 40 are disclosed herein and shown in thedrawings, it should be realized that the garbage container 2 and adapter40 may be formed in different sizes and shapes, such as rectangular,elliptical or frusto-conical, and such different sizes and shapes areenvisioned to be within the scope of the present invention.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to those preciseembodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may beeffected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from thescope or spirit of the invention.

1. An ergonomic garbage container, which comprises: a side wall; abottom wall, the side wall being joined to the bottom wall and definingtherebetween a bottom edge, the side wall defining an open end situatedopposite the bottom wall, the side wall and bottom wall defining aninternal cavity for receiving material; and at least first and secondshoulder-receiving recesses formed in at least one of the side wall,bottom wall and bottom edge of the container, each of the at least firstand second shoulder-receiving recesses being defined as a contoured,concave indentation which is dimensioned to at least partially receive ashoulder of a user of the garbage container, the first and secondshoulder-receiving recesses being disposed on the container oppositeeach other.
 2. An ergonomic garbage container as defined by claim 1,wherein the bottom wall of the container is formed with a recessedcavity, and wherein the container further comprises: a bottom handle,the bottom handle being situated within the recessed cavity formed inthe bottom wall of the container.
 3. An ergonomic garbage container asdefined by claim 2, wherein the bottom handle is rotatable with respectto the bottom wall of the container.
 4. An ergonomic garbage containeras defined by claim 1, wherein the container further comprises at leastfirst and second top handles, the first and second top handles beingmounted on the side wall of the container in proximity to the open endthereof, the first and second top handles being disposed on thecontainer opposite each other, the first shoulder-receiving recess beingsituated on the container in longitudinal alignment with the first tophandle, the second shoulder-receiving recess being situated on thecontainer in longitudinal alignment with the second top handle.
 5. Anergonomic garbage container as defined by claim 2, wherein the bottomhandle has a longitudinal axis along which the handle extends, whereinthe first and second shoulder-receiving recesses are positioned on thecontainer diametrically opposite one another and reside along adiametrical axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the bottom handleis situated perpendicularly to the diametrical axis on which the firstand second shoulder-receiving recesses reside.
 6. An ergonomic garbagecontainer as defined by claim 5, wherein the bottom wall of thecontainer further has formed therein at least first and second channels,each of the first and second channels being generally concavely shapedin transverse cross-section, the first channel extending from the firstshoulder-receiving recess radially inwardly of the bottom wall of thecontainer, the second channel extending from the secondshoulder-receiving recess radially inwardly of the bottom wall of thecontainer.
 7. An ergonomic garbage container as defined by claim 2,wherein the bottom wall of the container has formed therein at leastfirst and second recessed side handles, each of the first and secondrecessed side handles being in the form of a cavity, the bottom wall ofthe container having portions thereof which extend upwardly into theinternal cavity of the container and which define the cavities fromwhich the first and second recessed side handles are formed.
 8. Anergonomic garbage container as defined by claim 7, wherein the firstrecessed side handle is positioned within the first shoulder-receivingrecess, and wherein the second recessed side handle is positioned withinthe second shoulder-receiving recess.
 9. An ergonomic garbage containeras defined by claim 1, which further comprises: at least first andsecond shoulder cushioning pads, the first shoulder cushioning pad beingsituated within the first shoulder-receiving recess, the second shouldercushioning pad being situated within the second shoulder-receivingrecess.
 10. An ergonomic garbage container as defined by claim 9,wherein the first and second shoulder cushioning pads are removablymounted and situated within the first and second shoulder-receivingrecesses, respectively.
 11. An adapter for providing ergonomic featuresto a garbage container, the garbage container having a side wall and abottom wall joined to the side wall, the adapter being mountable on thegarbage container to be situated adjacent the bottom wall thereof, theadapter comprising: an outer peripheral support member, the outerperipheral support member having an outer surface, an inner surfacedisposed opposite the outer surface, an upper surface and a lowersurface disposed opposite the upper surface; and at least first andsecond shoulder-receiving recesses formed in at least one of the outersurface and the lower surface of the outer peripheral support, each ofthe at least first and second shoulder-receiving recesses being definedas a contoured, concave indentation which is dimensioned to at leastpartially receive a shoulder of a user of the garbage container on whichthe adapter is mounted, the first and second shoulder-receiving recessesbeing disposed on the adapter opposite each other.
 12. An adapter forproviding ergonomic features to a garbage container as defined by claim11, wherein the outer peripheral support of the adapter includes atleast first and second bulbous portions which extend outwardly from theinner surface of the outer peripheral support, the firstshoulder-receiving recess being at least partially formed in the firstbulbous portion, and the second shoulder-receiving recess being at leastpartially formed in the second bulbous portion.
 13. An adapter forproviding ergonomic features to a garbage container as defined by claim11, which further comprises: an inner peripheral support, the innerperipheral support being disposed within an inner area defined by theouter peripheral support, the inner peripheral support having an uppersurface, a lower surface disposed opposite the upper surface, an outersurface and an inner surface disposed opposite the outer surface; and aplurality of brace members, the brace members extending between theinner surface of the outer peripheral support and the outer surface ofthe inner peripheral support and being mounted to the outer peripheralsupport and the inner peripheral support, each brace member including anupper surface.
 14. An adapter for providing ergonomic features to agarbage container as defined by claim 13, wherein each of the uppersurface of the outer peripheral support, the upper surface of the innerperipheral support and the upper surfaces of the brace members residesin the same plane and are engagable with the bottom wall of thecontainer when the adapter is mounted therein.
 15. An adapter forproviding ergonomic features to a garbage container as defined by claim13, wherein the adapter further comprises: at least first and secondshoulder cushioning pads, the first shoulder cushioning pad beingsituated within the first shoulder-receiving recess, the secondcushioning pad being situated within the second shoulder-receivingrecess.
 16. An adapter for providing ergonomic features to a garbagecontainer as defined by claim 15, wherein the first and second shouldercushioning pads are removably mounted and situated within the first andsecond shoulder-receiving recesses, respectively.
 17. An adapter forproviding ergonomic features to a garbage container as defined by claim11, wherein the outer peripheral support includes at least first andsecond projections, the first and second projections extending outwardlyfrom the upper surface of the outer peripheral support, the first andsecond projections overlapping at least a portion of the side wall ofthe container when the adapter is mounted thereto, each of the first andsecond projections having an outer surface.
 18. An adapter for providingergonomic features to a garbage container as defined by claim 17, whichfurther comprises: at least first and second neck or face cushioningpads, the first neck or face cushioning pad being mounted on the outersurface of the first projection, the second neck or face cushioning padbeing mounted on the outer surface of the second projection.
 19. Anadapter for providing ergonomic features to a garbage container asdefined by claim 13, which further comprises: a bottom handle, thebottom handle being mounted on the inner peripheral support of theadapter.
 20. An adapter for providing ergonomic features to a garbagecontainer as defined by claim 19, wherein the bottom handle is rotatablymounted on the inner peripheral support.
 21. An ergonomic garbagecontainer as defined by claim 1, which further comprises: at least firstand second neck or face cushioning pads, the first neck or facecushioning pad being mounted on the side wall of the container andpositioned thereon in longitudinal alignment with the firstshoulder-receiving recess, the second neck or face cushioning pad beingmounted on the side wall of the container and positioned thereon inlongitudinal alignment with the second shoulder-receiving recess.